By Cara Bloncourt 

The parish of St. Mary Magdalene Church, Springfield Gardens, commissioned and blessed nine new altar servers: Cedric Angelus, Niquole Carnavon, Jimmie Cassamajor, Jeremiah Green, Rachelle Monteau, Reginald Monteau, Regine Monteau, Imani Phillip and Tristan Rene.

In order to become an altar server, the recruits went through six classes with altar server instructor, Lorna McKenzie, to understand the responsibility of what an altar server does during Mass.

Tristan Rene, a sixth grader from Baldwin Middle School, L.I., stated: “I became an altar server to continue my family’s legacy within St. Mary Magdalene.”

His sister, Ashley, will finish altar serving after seven years this year to prepare to go to college in the fall.

“I also wanted a way to give back to God, and this is the best way for me to do so right now,” Tristan said.

Father Jeffry Dillon, pastor, presented the nine recruits, dressed in their white albs, in front of the congregation and prayed a special blessing. Then, a cross was placed around each of their necks to signify their new role within the church. At the end of Mass, the new altar servers processed down the aisle with Father Dillon and Deacon Lee Williams and were congratulated by the congregation.